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Mathias Ihlenfeld 3x Inc. 5000 Entrepreneur | Built $25M Brand | CEO $100M+ Global Business | EY Entrepreneur of the Year | Coach & Advisor | Birthing of Giants Regional Cohort Lead Austin/San Antonio

When I launched woom bikes USA in 2014, I had no investors, no venture capital, and no safety net.

Just a container of 400 kids’ bikes, maxed-out credit cards, and an unreasonable belief that this was going to work.

Over the next six years, I bootstrapped the business from $0 to $20M in revenue. We grew 300% year-over-year in the early years, and woom’s impressive expansion and dedication to excellence earned multiple Inc. 5000 recognitions—highlighted by a 742% three-year growth rate in 2020 and our reputation as one of the fastest-growing private companies in the U.S.

In 2021, I played a pivotal role in the merger between the U.S. and European operations and went on to lead the combined $100M+ global business as CEO in 2022 and 2023. During this time, we secured external investment from institutional investors, expanded internationally, and reinforced woom’s position as a global category leader in premium children’s bicycles.

It was the ride of a lifetime. But it came with a cost: loneliness.

Because here’s the thing nobody tells you—when you’re building a company in the 8-9 digit revenue range, the problems don’t get smaller. They get bigger. More complex. And more isolating.

Even with a great team, there were moments I felt like I was carrying the weight alone.

That’s why my next chapter is clear: coaching, mentoring, and giving back—at scale.

Why I’m Doing This Now

I’ve been mentoring founders for years—helping them navigate capital, growth, and leadership challenges. I’ve also coached business owners on personal clarity and resilience, because building a company isn’t just about the numbers—it’s about the person leading it.

But now, I want to do this at a larger scale.

Not just one-on-one. Not just casual advice over coffee. But through a proven program that puts the business owner first, with a curriculum that helps entrepreneurs create value, improve profitability, and scale with confidence.

That’s why I’ve joined Birthing of Giants as the Regional Cohort Leader for Austin/San Antonio.

What Makes Birthing of Giants Different

There are plenty of coaches out there. But let’s be honest: most haven’t built, scaled, or sold a company. They’ve learned frameworks—but they haven’t lived them.

What sets Birthing of Giants apart is that it’s led by successful business owners—people who have built real companies, navigated the chaos of scaling, and exited on the other side. Not just a coach who studied the playbook, but entrepreneurs who wrote it through hard-earned experience.

This program is not theory. It’s a selective, MBA-level experience designed for companies in the 7–8 digit revenue range that want to scale smarter, grow enterprise value, and prepare for capital or an exit.

And the structure is built for impact:

• Quarterly in-person sessions with a curated group of peers
• A proven curriculum built around four pillars:
  1. Capital Market Readiness – Build as if you were going to sell (whether you do or not)
  2. Financial Model Transformation – Redesign your model for faster growth and higher enterprise value
  3. Amplified Sales – Use data, AI, and advanced strategies to multiply impact
  4. Scalable Management – Unlock your team’s potential and build a business that doesn’t rely on you for everything
• A capstone at Fellowship Week, where everything comes together

The Importance of a Cohort

My goal is to build a high performing cohort of business leaders who support each other, hold each other accountable and share their experience and help each other.

Because no matter how talented your team is, they can’t always be the people you lean on for the toughest decisions. And while mentors and advisors are valuable, nothing compares to being surrounded by a group of fellow CEOs who are in the trenches right now, just like you.

A cohort gives you:

• Shared perspective – You realize you’re not the only one facing these challenges.
• Accountability – Other owners holding you to the goals you set.
• Trust and candor – A safe space to share the unfiltered truth of leadership.
• Problem-solving power – Diverse experience in the room leads to better solutions.
• Energy and momentum – You leave each session with clarity and renewed drive.

Simply put: a cohort makes the lonely journey less lonely—and far more effective.

How It Helped Me

In 2021, I participated in the Birthing of Giants Fellowship Program myself.

It was a turning point.

The One Year From Today (OYFT) framework sharpened how I lead. It forced me to write a bold, present-tense vision of where I wanted the business to be in 12 months—and then break it down into outcomes, value creators, bold moves, and focus areas.

It also taught me something I had overlooked: respecting complexity. As a founder, I had a habit of oversimplifying problems that came easily to me. But scaling requires more awareness—of your people, systems, and blind spots. The OYFT gave me that lens.

That week accelerated me as a leader and gave me clarity I wish I’d had earlier in my journey.

Now, I get to guide other founders through that same experience—this time, inside a cohort.

Why Join

If you’re running a company in the 7–8 digit revenue range, here’s what this program will give you:

• Clarity – Define your vision and create a roadmap for the next 12 months and beyond
• Confidence – Navigate capital, scaling, and exits with frameworks built by entrepreneurs who’ve done it
• Community – A trusted circle of peers who know the weight you’re carrying
• Capability – Build financial models, systems, and teams that scale
• Capital readiness – Learn how to position your business so capital flows to you, not away from you

My Next Chapter

For me, this isn’t just another business move—it’s a calling.

I know the sleepless nights. I know the 3am math in your head to see if payroll clears. I know the pressure of making big decisions when the stakes couldn’t be higher.

And I also know how transformational it is when you find clarity, step into a trusted cohort, and realize you’re not in it alone.

That’s what Birthing of Giants gave me. And that’s what I’m bringing to this Regional Cohort in Austin/San Antonio.

If you’re leading a 7–8 digit business and you’re ready to stop drifting, create real enterprise value, and scale with clarity and confidence—this is your invitation.

Because at the end of the day, better leaders build better businesses.
And better businesses build stronger communities.

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You can reach me via email: mathias.ihlenfeld@birthingofgiants.net​

Book a time with me here: ​calendly.com/mathiasihlenfeld​

Or contact me directly: 737-600-6142

I’d be happy to meet up, share more about the program, and explore whether the Birthing of Giants Regional Cohort could be the right fit for you.

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